Paleolithic to Bronze Age Siberians Reveal Connections with First Americans and across Eurasia

AI interpretationAI-generated

Ancient Baikal genomes link Upper Paleolithic Siberians to First Americans and reveal Bronze Age admixture.

This study sequenced 19 individuals from Siberia's Lake Baikal region, spanning the Upper Paleolithic to Early Bronze Age. One Upper Paleolithic genome shares the mixed ancestry that gave rise to all non-Arctic Native Americans, showing a direct genetic link. Later Neolithic and Bronze Age Baikal populations formed through prolonged mixing between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago. The study also found genetic contact with western Eurasian steppe groups and reconstructed plague genomes from two Early Bronze Age individuals.

• An Upper Paleolithic Siberian genome shares the admixed ancestry that gave rise to all non-Arctic Native Americans, showing the deepest known link between Siberians and First Americans.
• Early Neolithic and Bronze Age Baikal populations formed through continuous admixture over the eighth to sixth millennium BP.
• Genetic interactions with western Eurasian steppe populations were detected, and Yersinia pestis genomes were reconstructed from two Early Bronze Age individuals without western Eurasian ancestry.

Sample interpretation

The site includes 17 ancient individuals, with 13 resolved Y-chromosome lineages. Y haplogroups are dominated by Q (8 samples) and C (3 samples), including Q-BZ2222, C-F3918, and Q-L53. Mitochondrial DNA includes C4 (3), A-a1b (2), C4a1a3 (2), and F1b1b (2). Cultures are mostly Lena EBA/Baikal_LNBA (10) and Lena EN/Baikal_EN (3). Key sites are KPT006 (6), ZPL002 (2), and KAG002 (2).

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this confirms that ancient Baikal populations were a key source for Native American ancestry and later formed through complex mixing. The Q and C Y-haplogroups and C4, A, F1b mtDNA lineages reflect deep Eurasian connections, useful for tracing distant roots.